Staple extractor and holder.



PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

E. M. SMITH. STAPLE EXTRAGTOR AND HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

i EDWARD M. sMrrH, or rLEvNA, KANSAS.

STAPLE EXTRACTOR AND HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1906;

Application filed January 31, 1905. Serial No. 243,683.

T0 Ml whom; it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, EDWARD M.. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plevna, in the county of Reno and State of it is applied, the lnvention obviating the like lihood of dropping of the fastener and the necessity of leaning over and picking it up after the same has been extracted. 1

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means .for effecting the result reference is to be had to the'following description and accom anying drawings.

Whi e the invention. may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes 1n the structure and minor details without dearting from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings,oin which- 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the parts which comprise the holding device proper.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The staple-extractor may be of any type suitable for the purpose of the invention, an it consists, preferably,'of a shank 1, provided at one end with the handle 2, the opposite end of the shank having the transverse head 3 thereon for engagement with the staple in extracting the same. The head 3 preferably extends laterallyfrom the shank 1 and curves toward its outer ends, as shown at 4, terminating in a point readily adapted to beforced between the staple and the part in which it is driven in order to quickly withdraw the same. The end of the head 3 opposite that which is curved, as above described, projects laterally from the shank 1 and forms a butt 3, which may be used as a hammer in driving nails or staples or similar fastenings.

sure-plate 8,

The attaching device which constitutes the means for holding the staple after it has been withdrawn comprises, essentially, an engaging member 5, pivoted to the shank 1, as indicated at 6, said engaging member forming a jaw virtually cooperating with the head3 so as to positively engage the outer or curved portion of the staple as the tool is operated to withdraw the fastener. The member 5 is preferably bifurcated at one end thereof to form spaced members 7, which embrace the shank 1 upon opposite sides and project outwardly from the shank above the hammer-butt 3 the pivot 6 passing through the shank and the members 7 pivotally securing the engaging member 5 in position.

The operation of the member 5 in extracting the staple is entirely automatic, and for this purpose the head 3 is provided upon the slde thereof which ordinarily bears against the part in which the staple is driven with a presone end of which is reduced and pivotally attached to the head, as shown at 9. The other end of the plate 8 is spaced from the head normally and is formed with side lugs 10, which are pivotally connected with the member 5 by means of links 11, each of which links has pivotal connection at one end with a lug 10 and at the other end with one of the spaced members 7. The links 11 are arranged upon opposite sides of the hammer-butt 3 and slide in contact therewith, so as to reinforce the pivotal mounting of the jaw or staple-engaging member 5, said links connecting with the portions of the members 7 which project outwardly from the shank 1, so that the links operate longitudinally of the shank in their movement under the actuation of the pressure-plate 8. The links 11 are thus disposed advantageously and do not interfere in any way with the use of the part 3 as a hammer under certain conditions of service. A projection 12 extends from the shank 1 near the handle 2 and a coil-spring 13 is connected at one end with the projection 12 and at its opposite end with the engaging member 5, the normal tension of this spring being sufficient to normally hold the engaging member away from the head 3; When the engaging member 5 is spaced from the head 3, the pressure ,plate 8 is likewise spaced from the head at one end-namely, at the portion of said plate which will bear against the post or other support in which the staple is driven. The outer extremity of the member 5 is also bifurcated, so that the the adjacent bifurcated portions of'themember 5. Further, the outer end of the ex tremity of the member 5 adjacent the points of the head 3 is transversely notched, so that the curved portion of the staple will be effectively engaged thereby.

In its actual operation the tool is gri ped in the usual manner and the point of the head 3 is forced between the staple and the part in whichit is driven. As soon as pressure is appliedto the handle to gain the necessary leverage to extract the staple the pressure-plate 8 is of course forced against the head 3, the tension of the spring, 13 being overcome. Such movement of the pressure-plate 8 causes the engaging member 5 to move into engagement with the head 3v and with the staple,

'which now encircles the pointed portions of the head, so that as the'staple is withdrawn from the part to which it is applied the mem ber 5 is in engagement therewith and the said staple will not fall to the ground or be displaced and give rise to inconvenience, which has been before mentioned.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed. as new is 11. A tool of the character specified com prising a shank having a cross-head at one end tapered to a point and inwardly curved" at one of its ends, a pressure member arranged exterior to the cross-head and pivoted at one end to the tapered portion thereof, a gripping member arranged crosswise of the shank and having an end portion bifurcated to embrace said shank and pivoted thereto and adapted to cooperate with the tapered end of the said cross-head, link connections between the gripping and pressure members embracing opposite sides of the butt-end of the cross-head, and a spring normally exerting a force upon the gripping member to hold its grip ing end away from the pointed end of the afbrementioned cross-head.

2.. A tool of the character set forth comprising a shank having a cross-head tapered to a point and inwardly curved at one of its ends, a pressure member located exterior to the cross-head and pivoted at one end to the tapered end portion thereof and having transversely aced lugs at its opposite end to em brace an clear the sides of the cross-head, a

gripping member arranged crosswise of the shank upon the inner side of the'cross-head and having an end portion bifurcated to embrace said shank and pivoted thereto and having the opposite end provided with a claw tions of the gripping members and having pivotal connection at their opposite ends with the lugs of said pressure member, and a spring normally exerting a force upon the grip ing member to hold its grip ing end away fiom the pointed end of the a orementioned crosshead.

3. A tool' substantially as herein set forth comprising a shank having an integral crosshead at one end recessed upon its outer side and having an end portion tapered to a point and inwardly curved, a pressure member arranged exterior to said cross-head and having an end portion pivoted within the recess provided in the outer side of said cross-head and having its opposite end formed with transversely-spaced lugs to embrace and clear the sides of the butt portion of the cross-head, a

ipping member having an end portion biii ircated and embracing the shank and pivoted thereto and having its opposite end provided with a claw for cooperation with the 1 pointed end ofsaid cross-head, the latter being arranged betweenthe gripping end pressure members, links embracing opposite sides of the butt portion of the cross-head and having their opposite ends pivoted to, respectively, the bifurcations of the gripping member and thelugs of thepressure member, and a spring normally exerting a force upon the griipping member to hold its grip ing end away om the pointed end of the af brementioned cross-head.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD M. SMITH. Witnesses:

CHAS. M. COLEMAN, W. S. J'AoKsoN. 

